Dinner cruise on the Nile

A 3.5-hour evening in Cairo with a two-hour sail on a Nile restaurant boat: buffet dinner, live music, a belly dancer and a tanoura dancer, with the city lit up on both banks. Hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza, a representative and your ticket with dinner are included.

Duration: 3.5 hours
Tour type: Private, your own group
Pickup: From your hotel
Guide: Representative for transfers and boarding

From$50 per person

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Overview

Cairo looks its best from the river at night. The towers of Zamalek and Garden City, the bridges and the corniche are lit up, the traffic noise falls away and the air on the water is cooler than in the streets. A dinner cruise is the easiest way to enjoy it: a restaurant boat that leaves from the corniche in the evening, sails slowly up and down the Nile for about two hours, and serves dinner while a band, a belly dancer and a tanoura dancer perform in the main hall.

A driver and our representative collect you from your hotel in the early evening and take you to the boat in a private air-conditioned car. The representative checks you in and shows you to your table. On board you eat from the buffet, watch the shows, and go up to the open deck for the views whenever you like. After the boat docks, the same car takes you back to your hotel; the whole evening lasts about three and a half hours.

Who this tour suits

Couples looking for a relaxed evening out after a day of sightseeing.
Families and groups of friends who want dinner and entertainment in one booking, with the transfers arranged.
First-time visitors who want to see Cairo by night without walking through traffic.
Travelers on a short stay who want one evening that feels different from the day's tours.

It is not a quiet dinner: the music is loud and the shows are lively, and the boat is shared with other guests. If you prefer a calm evening on the river, ask us about a private felucca ride at sunset instead, or browse our Cairo day tours.

The shows

The program usually opens with a band playing Egyptian and international songs during dinner. Then comes the oriental dance, Egypt's belly dance, performed by a professional dancer in costume. The tanoura dancer follows: a man in a layered, brightly coloured skirt who spins for many minutes without stopping, lifting and turning the skirts above his head, a stage version of the Sufi whirling tradition. Some boats add a folklore group or a singer. The order and the performers depend on the boat and the night.

What you will love

Cairo lit up at nightThe towers, bridges and corniche of central Cairo seen from the open deck as the boat sails.
Two hours on the NileA slow evening sail on the river through the heart of the city, away from the traffic.
Dinner on boardA buffet of Egyptian and international dishes, with vegetarian choices every night.
The tanoura dancerA spinning dancer in a many-layered coloured skirt, a show that children and adults remember.
Oriental dance and live musicA belly dance show and a band playing Egyptian and international songs during dinner.
Private transfersA private air-conditioned car from your hotel to the boat and back, with check-in done for you.

Your stops

Times are for a boat leaving at 20:00 and a hotel in central Cairo; the exact pickup time is confirmed with your booking.

Stop1

19:15 Pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza

Our representative and driver meet you in the hotel lobby and drive you to the corniche in a private air-conditioned car.

Stop2

19:45 Boarding and your table

The representative checks you in at the boat and shows you to your table in the main hall. Take a few minutes on the deck before the boat leaves, when the lights of the city come on along the river.

Stop3

20:00 The boat sails and dinner opens

The boat casts off and sails slowly along the Nile. The buffet opens soon after, and a band plays while you eat. Drinks are ordered from the waiters.

Stop4

20:45 Oriental dance show

A professional belly dancer performs in the hall, with music from the band; guests are sometimes invited to join in at the end.

Stop5

21:15 Tanoura show

The tanoura dancer spins in his coloured skirts to Sufi-inspired music, the show most guests remember. Between and after the shows, go up to the deck for the views of Zamalek, Garden City and the bridges.

Stop6

22:00 Back at the dock and drive to your hotel

The boat returns to its mooring at about 22:00. Your driver is waiting at the dock and takes you back to your hotel, where you arrive at about 22:30 to 23:00.

Price

Group size and pricing

9 or more people$50per person5–8 people$55per person2–4 people$75per personSolo$115per person

Prices are per person in US dollars. Children pay less, see the children policy below.

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What is included

Included5 items

An English-speaking representative who handles the transfer and your check-in on board.
Your ticket for the two-hour dinner cruise, with dinner and the shows.
A private air-conditioned car for the transfers.
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Cairo or Giza.
Bottled water in the car.

Not included3 items

Drinks on board, personal expenses and photos sold by the boat's photographer.
Tips for the waiters, the driver and the representative (optional).
Travel insurance.

Practical information for this tour

Timing and the best season

Boats leave in the evening, usually between 19:30 and 20:30, and pickup is between 18:30 and 20:30 depending on the boat and your hotel. The cruise runs all year. From October to April the evenings on the deck are cool, so bring a light jacket; from May to September the deck is pleasant after dark and the air-conditioned hall is a break from the heat.

Food and drinks

Dinner is a buffet or, on some boats and nights, a set menu: salads and mezze, Egyptian and international hot dishes, rice and pasta, and desserts. Vegetarian dishes are always on the buffet; tell us about allergies or a special diet when you book. Drinks are not included and are ordered from the waiters and paid on board, in cash; some boats serve alcohol, others do not.

Photography

Photos and videos with your phone or camera are welcome throughout, including of the shows. The best views of the city are from the open deck between the shows. Tripods are not practical in the crowded hall.

What to wear and bring

Smart casual clothes; there is no strict dress code, but most guests dress up a little for the evening.
A light jacket or shawl for the deck, especially in winter.
Cash in Egyptian pounds for drinks and tips on board.

Pickup, timing and getting there

Pickup is from any hotel in central Cairo, Zamalek, Garden City or Giza; the boats leave from the corniche in central Cairo or Giza, usually 15 to 40 minutes away. Hotels in New Cairo, Heliopolis or near the airport are further away and may need an earlier pickup; tell us where you stay. You are back at your hotel at about 22:30 to 23:30.

Children and mobility

Children are welcome and usually love the tanoura dancer; children's prices apply, ask us when you book. Boarding is by a short gangway and the deck is reached by stairs, so tell us if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair and we will check access on the boat for your date.

Travel policy guide

Pricing policy

All prices are per person in US dollars and depend on the size of your group. Your quote lists the final price and what it covers. After the deposit, changes to your plan cost US$25 per request, plus any third-party fees.

Booking confirmation

A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost confirms your booking. We send you a secure payment link for the deposit; the balance is paid in cash or by card on arrival in Egypt, unless your written offer gives another date. We never ask for card details by email, chat or WhatsApp. We confirm every booking by email.

Cancellation and refund

22 days or more before departure: 100% refund
15 to 21 days: 70% refund
8 to 14 days: 50% refund
0 to 7 days: no refund

No-show travelers are charged 100%. During peak events in Egypt, hotels and Nile cruises do not refund deposits. Groups of more than 10 people may have different terms.

Children policy

Under 2: free, sharing the parents’ bed, meals not included
2 to 5 years: 25% of the adult price
6 to 11 years: 50% of the adult price
12 and over: adult price

Add each child and their age in the enquiry form so the quote is exact.

Optional visits

Add a lunch stop, a longer visit or a second site to your day. Tell us what you want and we add it to your quote with its cost.

Extra expenses

Not included in the price: Drinks and beverages during the cruise; Any additional services or extras not specified in the itinerary.

Tipping guide

Tipping is customary in Egypt and is not included in the price. A usual amount for a private day tour is US$5 to 10 per person for your guide and US$3 to 5 for your driver.

Questions about this tour

How long is the Nile dinner cruise?

The sail lasts about two hours. With the transfers, the evening lasts about three and a half hours from pickup to drop-off.

Are drinks included?

No. Dinner is included, but all drinks, including water and soft drinks at the table, are ordered from the waiters and paid on board. Some boats serve alcohol, others do not.

Is the boat private?

No. Your transfers are private, but the boat is a restaurant boat shared with other guests, and each group has its own table. A fully private boat can be quoted on request for larger groups.

Which boat will we be on?

We book a boat that sails on your date and confirm its name with your booking. The program on board, dinner and shows, is similar on each.

Is the cruise suitable for vegetarians and children?

Yes. The buffet always has vegetarian dishes, and children are welcome and usually enjoy the tanoura show. Tell us their ages for the children's price.

What travelers say about Egypt Online Tour

Independent reviews on the platforms travelers already trust.

Tripadvisor

5.0

193 reviews

Ranked #121 of 2,706 tours and activities in Cairo

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Google

5.0

Based on 6 Google reviews

60 Ahmed El Zomor, Cairo, Egypt

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Christiane SMay 2026

Traveled with family

Amazing Egyptian vacation! We did an 11 day private tour of Cairo, cruise on the Nile between Aswan and Luxor and a 4 day stay in Hurghada. The guided tours were very interesting, with extremely knowledgeable guides, attentive and helpful.

Ehrhart MAugust 2024

Traveled as a couple

Egypt package to the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara was a fascinating journey through Egypt's ancient past ,guide knowledge, the majesty of the pyramids, and the historical depth of Saqqara made this tour truly enriching!

Clayton Z973August 2024

Traveled in a group

our honeymoon to Egypt ,Giza and Saqqara was a magical escape into history The pyramids looming in the distance, the quiet serenity of the desert, and the ancient wonders of Saqqara created moments that will be with me forever!

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Dinner cruise on the Nile